Vendor seat cost guide
Microsoft 365 Copilot license cost and seat waste
Microsoft's published per-user prices, and a calculator prefilled with them so you can size unused Copilot seats.
Prices checked October 30, 2026Short answer
On October 30, 2026, Microsoft listed Microsoft 365 Copilot (add-on) for enterprise at$30.00 per user per month, paid yearly, and Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on) at$21.00 per user per month, paid yearly ($18.00 promotional for the first year). Each unused seat costs that price every month. Multiply unused seats by your price to see the monthly waste.
Published prices
What Microsoft lists per user
| Plan | Price | Notes | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Copilot (add-on, enterprise) | $30.00 user/month, paid yearly. Microsoft also lists $31.50 paid monthly with an annual commitment. | Requires a separate license for a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan. | Use $30.00 |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on), list price | $21.00 user/month, paid yearly. Microsoft also lists $25.20 user/month on a monthly subscription. | For existing customers with an eligible Microsoft 365 Business plan. | Use $21.00 |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on), promotional price | $18.00 user/month, paid yearly, first year only. | Microsoft lists this offer as available from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026, with an annual commitment. | Use $18.00 |
Sources: Microsoft Copilot for enterprise,Microsoft Copilot for business, andMicrosoft Copilot plans and pricing, checked October 30, 2026. Prices change and can vary by market, agreement, and reseller. Microsoft also bills some advanced AI features by usage, which a per-seat calculator does not cover.
Active use
How to count active Copilot seats
Microsoft documents a Microsoft Copilot usage report in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Its numbers map to the calculator inputs:
- Enabled users is the number of users with Copilot licenses. Use it for licensed seats if it matches what you pay for.
- Active users is the number of enabled users who used a Copilot feature in the selected period. Enter it with the calculator's Seats option.
- Active users rate is active users divided by enabled users. Enter it as the active usage percentage.
The report covers the last 7, 28, 90, or 180 days. Microsoft counts a user as active when they take an intentional action, such as submitting a prompt. Opening the Copilot pane alone does not count. Pick the window that matches how you define real use, and check inactive users with their managers before you remove licenses.
Worked example
What unused Copilot seats cost in numbers
An illustrative example, not a benchmark: 200 seats at $30.00 per user per month, 60% active, 75% of inactive seats reclaimable, modeled at renewal. These results come from the same code the calculator runs.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Inactive seats | 80 |
| Monthly waste | $2,400 |
| Annual waste | $28,800 |
| Reclaimable seats | 60 |
| Target seat count at renewal | 140 |
| Next-term annual savings | $21,600 |
| Scenario range | Conservative $15,840, expected $21,600, aggressive $27,360 |
Free tool
Run your Copilot numbers
The calculator opens with Microsoft 365 Copilot as the vendor and $30.00 per seat. Change the price to match your agreement, then enter your licensed seats and active usage. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
Open the prefilled calculatorCommon questions
Copilot seat cost FAQ
How much does a Microsoft 365 Copilot license cost?
On October 30, 2026, Microsoft listed Microsoft 365 Copilot (add-on) for enterprise at $30.00 per user per month, paid yearly, or $31.50 per user per month paid monthly on an annual commitment. Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on) was listed at $21.00 per user per month paid yearly, with a promotional price of $18.00 for the first year. Your contract price may differ, so use the price on your agreement.
How does the calculator work out inactive Copilot seats?
Inactive seats = licensed seats x (1 - active usage % / 100), rounded to the nearest whole seat. If you enter an active seat count instead of a percentage, the calculator first converts it: active usage % = active seats / licensed seats x 100, rounded to one decimal place and capped at 100%.
How are monthly and annual waste calculated?
Monthly waste = inactive seats x monthly cost per seat. Annual waste = monthly waste x 12. These count every inactive seat, whether or not you expect to reclaim it.
How are reclaimable seats and savings calculated?
Reclaimable seats = inactive seats x reclaimable % / 100, rounded to the nearest whole seat. Savings = reclaimable seats x monthly cost per seat x months. With "During this term", months is the contract term remaining. With "At renewal", months is always 12. Target seat count = licensed seats - reclaimable seats.
How are the three scenarios calculated?
The expected scenario uses your reclaimable %. The conservative scenario uses that rate minus 20 points and the aggressive scenario uses it plus 20 points, kept between 0% and 100%. Each scenario rounds inactive seats x its rate to whole seats, then multiplies by monthly cost per seat and the same number of months.
Where do I find active Copilot users?
Microsoft documents a Microsoft Copilot usage report in the Microsoft 365 admin center under Reports, then Usage. It shows enabled users, active users, and the active users rate over the last 7, 28, 90, or 180 days. Microsoft counts a user as active when they take an intentional action, such as submitting a prompt.
Does SeatLeak read my Microsoft 365 tenant?
No. SeatLeak does not connect to Microsoft 365 or any vendor. You type in the numbers, and all calculations run locally in your browser.